It’s not that these icons aren’t meaningful. They are. But when they become the only lens through which design is viewed, they create a bottleneck. A ceiling. A limit to how far Sarawak can push creative innovation. Instead of being known as a hub for originality, forward-thinking design, or digital innovation, we risk being reduced to clichés.
Think about this for a moment.
When you think of China, you think efficient and fast.
When you think of Japan, you think quality and reliability.
When you think of Germany, you think engineering and precision.
When you think of Italy, you think luxury and speed.
Notice what’s happening? These associations come from feats of industry, innovation, and global contribution. They don’t scream pandas, sushi, or pasta — yet we all still know their cultures, and yes, their food. So why is it that when we talk about design in Sarawak, we keep circling back to hornbills and orangutans?
Holding Culture by Default
Don’t get me wrong — culture matters. Culture is who we are by default. It is the fabric beneath everything we do. But culture alone does not lead to innovation.
If the first thing people associate with Sarawak is “hornbills and orangutans”, the next question usually is: “But what do the people create? What are they known for?”
I’d rather flip it around: “Sarawak is filled with innovators and forward-thinkers. Fun fact: did you know hornbills are native there?”
That shift in perception changes everything.
Beyond Symbols, Toward Feats
Germany didn’t brand itself as “the land of bratwurst.” Japan isn’t globally admired for just sushi. Their culture flows naturally in the background while their achievements lead the narrative. Sarawak can, and should, take the same approach. Imagine if the world associated us not only with biodiversity and heritage, but with:
Creative innovation
Award-winning design
Cutting-edge technologies
Premium brand experiences born here
That’s when we break the bottleneck. That’s when culture and creativity coexist without one being forced to carry the other. So here’s the challenge for every marketing team, developer, and decision-maker in Sarawak:
Do you want your brand to be instantly recognisable for its originality and vision, or just another collage of predictable icons?
Are we building legacies, or are we decorating placeholders?
Can we design work that makes people pause and say “This came from Sarawak” without needing to stamp a hornbill in the corner?